Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese Department of Christian...
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1 Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese Department of Christian Education 2018 Creative Festivals Lesson Plan: Middle School/High School Theme: “They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (Acts 2:42) Goal: To help the students understand the theme well enough to express it in art, photography, poetry, and creative writing. Lesson Objectives: The students will be able to: • Explain in their own words the Acts of the Apostles account of life in the early Church. • Explain in their own words Mark 14:12-26 and how it relates to the icon of The Mystical Supper. • Name the activities of the earliest Church community gatherings and describe how these activities commended the Church to those around them. Time: 40 minutes Materials: • Bibles • Icon of The Mystical Supper (attached) • Service Books • Dictionary definition of the theological term “koinonia” (attached) Opening Prayer: Hymn of the Mystical Supper Let me this day, Son of God, be a partaker of Your Mystical Supper, for I will not reveal Your Mystery to Your enemies, nor will I betray You with a kiss as did Judas, but like the repentant thief I openly profess You: remember me O Lord, in Your kingdom. Introduction: Have the students read aloud the passages from Mark 14:12-26 and Acts 2:42. Hold up the icon of The Mystical Supper.
Transcript of Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese Department of Christian...
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AntiochianOrthodoxArchdioceseDepartmentofChristianEducation
2018CreativeFestivalsLessonPlan:MiddleSchool/HighSchool
Theme:“Theycontinuedsteadfastlyintheapostles’doctrineandfellowship,inthebreakingofbread,andinprayers.”(Acts2:42)Goal:Tohelpthestudentsunderstandthethemewellenoughtoexpressitinart,photography,poetry,andcreativewriting.LessonObjectives:Thestudentswillbeableto:
•ExplainintheirownwordstheActsoftheApostlesaccountoflifeintheearlyChurch.
•ExplainintheirownwordsMark14:12-26andhowitrelatestotheiconofTheMysticalSupper.
•NametheactivitiesoftheearliestChurchcommunitygatheringsanddescribehowtheseactivitiescommendedtheChurchtothosearoundthem.
Time:40minutesMaterials:
•Bibles•IconofTheMysticalSupper(attached)•ServiceBooks•Dictionarydefinitionofthetheologicalterm“koinonia”(attached)
OpeningPrayer:HymnoftheMysticalSupper
Letmethisday,SonofGod,beapartakerofYourMysticalSupper,forIwillnotrevealYourMysterytoYourenemies,norwillIbetrayYouwithakissasdidJudas,butliketherepentantthiefIopenlyprofessYou:remembermeOLord,inYourkingdom.Introduction:HavethestudentsreadaloudthepassagesfromMark14:12-26andActs2:42.HolduptheiconofTheMysticalSupper.
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Questions/Discussion:
• WhateventstookplaceinMark14:12-26?(PreparationofthePassoverlambandsupper;fellowship,breakingofbread,andprayers.)
• WhateventstookplaceinthegatheringofthefirstChristiansinActs?(InstructionintheApostles’doctrine,fellowship,breakingofbread,andprayers.)
• ReadActs2:46-47.Wheredidthebreakingofbreadtakeplace?(Housetohouse.)
• WhatcharacterizedtheattitudeofthefirstChristiansduringthebreakingofbread?(Gladness,simplicityofheart.)
• WhatcommendedtheearlyChristiancommunitytotheirneighbors?(Thecommunities’loveforoneanotherandtothoseoutsidetheircommunity.)
• WhatcausedtheearlyChristiancommunitytogrowrapidly?(TheypraisedGodandwerelovingtooneanother.)
ExploringCreatively:Breakuptheclassintogroupsof3or4.GiveeachgroupaServiceBookandBible.AssigneachgrouponeoftheearlyChurch’sactivities.AskthegroupstofindtheirearlyChurchactivityintheServiceBook:
• FortheServiceofPreparation,havethestudentslookatOrthros.• FortheteachingofDoctrine,havethestudentslookattheServiceofthe
Catechumens.• Forthebreakingofbread,havethestudentslookattheServiceofthe
Eucharist.
AskthestudentstodiscusshowtheiractivityrelatesbacktotheearlyChurchandtotheIconofTheMysticalSupper.AskthemtodiscussthefeelingstheearlyChurchhadwhentheseactivitiestookplace.(Feelingsofgladness,thankfulness,andsimplicityofheart.)HowdowefeelduringtheseeventsatLiturgy?Haveeachgrouptakenotesandpresenttheirfindingstotheclass.Conclusion:“IntheOrthodoxChurch,whenthefaithfulgathertogetherforthebreakingofbreadandthecelebrationofEucharistthereisaspecialword.IntheGreeklanguage,theworddescribesthespecialunitingofbelieverstooneanotherandtoChristduringCommunion.Itisaworddescribingtheloveandfellowshipthatflowbetweenus.ThereisnowordintheEnglishlanguagethatcanfullyexpressthedepthandrichnessofthiscommunalrelationship.Pleaselookuptheword“koinonia.”(Studentsmaylookupthedefinitionontheirphones.Thedefinitionisalsoprovidedonpage4.)“HowdoesthissingleGreektheologicaltermdescribethefeelingatTheMysticalSupper,thegatheringsoftheearlyChurchwiththebreakingofbread,andourDivineLiturgytoday?”
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Obtainanswersfromtheclass.ClosingPrayer:
TheCreed
IbelieveinoneGod,theFatherAlmighty,Makerofheavenandearth,andofallthingsvisibleandinvisible;
AndinoneLord,JesusChrist,theSonofGod,theOnly-begotten,BegottenoftheFatherbeforeallworlds,LightofLight,VeryGodofVeryGod,Begotten,notmade;ofoneessencewiththeFather,bywhomallthingsweremade:
Whoforusmenandforoursalvationcamedownfromheaven,andwasincarnateoftheHolySpiritandtheVirginMary,andwasmademan;
AndwascrucifiedalsoforusunderPontiusPilate,andsufferedandwasburied;AndthethirddayHeroseagain,accordingtotheScriptures;Andascendedintoheaven,andsittethattherighthandoftheFather;AndHeshallcomeagainwithglorytojudgethequickandthedead,Whose
kingdomshallhavenoend.AndIbelieveintheHolySpirit,theLord,andGiverofLife,Whoproceedeth
fromtheFather,WhowiththeFatherandtheSontogetherisworshippedandglorified,WhospakebytheProphets;
AndIbelieveinOneHolyCatholicandApostolicChurch.IacknowledgeoneBaptismfortheremissionofsins.IlookfortheResurrectionofthedead.AndtheLifeoftheworldtocome.Amen.
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Merriam-WebsterDictionaryDefinition of KOINONIA
1: the Christian fellowship or body of believers 2: intimate spiritual communion and participative sharing in a common religious commitment and spiritual community “The koinonia of the disciples with each other and with their Lord.”
